Best used dual-cab ute for 2019

SUVs may well be the family car of the 21st century, but for some families the typical 'soft-road' SUV just doesn't cut the mustard.

What these families need is a hard-core commercial vehicle with some extra seats – a vehicle that will take at least four people to a holiday destination while towing a caravan or a ski boat. Ideally, for your extreme-adventure families, the ute must also provide some off-road capability to reach remote campsites.

But not every family lives for the next holiday destination. For some buyers, the dual-cab ute just plain makes sense as a business workhorse during the week and a family hauler after hours. As a bonus, that one vehicle incurs just one registration fee and insurance premium to pay – with the former at least partly subsidised by the Australian Taxation Office.

Over the past six years dual-cab utes have improved radically. As used vehicles they remain a good proposition for buyers on a budget. But among the diverse selection available, only one stands out from the rest.

And in 2019, the carsales best used dual-cab ute is the 2013...

The locally developed but Thai-built Ford Ranger XLT – the first product of the T6 program  – won carsales best used cars last year, and has made a return to the top step of the podium in 2019. For 2013 the Ranger XLT scored an upgrade in the form of standard satellite navigation, but was otherwise unchanged from the 2012 model that won its category in carsales best used cars in 2018.

RedBook values the Ranger XLT dual-cab at $27,400 in average retail condition, sold privately. In 2013, the Ford sold for a new price of $55,390.

"Designed in Australia for Aussies, the Ranger is just right for weekend warriors," Technical Editor for carsales, Ken Gratton, remarked.

Data Services Director at RedBook, Ross Booth, praised the Ranger for its "great ride and handling", as well as its "supportive front seats".

Matt Brogan, Road Test Editor at carsales, joined in the chorus with this observation: "Trade tough and with off-road ability few in its class can match".

Find a used Ford Ranger XLT on carsales

Honourable mentions:

Sharing many of its mechanicals with the Ford Ranger, the Mazda BT-50 GT displaced the Volkswagen Amarok to win silver this year. Its close association with the Ranger has probably resulted in the Mazda being overlooked to an extent. Its two-year new-car warranty at the time did it no favours. Certainly the new-car sales figures support that view. But with new-car warranty no longer a factor, the BT-50 looks more convincing to dual-cab buyers.

RedBook's score of 42 points for the Mazda was practically unchanged from last year, but the BT-50's tally of 39 points from the judges lifted its overall aggregate to 81 points out of 100.
Red Book value: $30,450

"It's not as handsome as its twin-under-the-skin Ford Ranger, but it's a very competent dual-cab ute" – Matt Brogan, carsales Road Test Editor

The Toyota HiLux has been redoubtable over many years. While the Toyota is not even first among equals when compared with its rivals, mundane considerations like running costs and resale value have helped the HiLux reach the heady heights of Australia's most popular vehicle. Back in 2013, Toyota was gearing up for the launch of an all-new model, but the last of the 25 Series models were still a safe bet – notching up nearly 40,000 sales for the year.

While the judges didn't rate the Toyota as highly as other vehicles in the segment (30 points only), RedBook's score of 43.2 ran out to a total of 73.2 points out of 100 – enough to place it ahead of the Volkswagen Amarok and the Mitsubishi Triton among the also-rans.
Red Book value: $36,250

"Great reputation, with the best aftermarket support in the business" – Redbook Director of Data Services, Ross Booth.

What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Cars Awards?
• Less than six years old,
• Standard side-curtain airbags,
• Standard Bluetooth,
• Standard stability control,
• Standard reversing camera for SUVs.

How did RedBook weight the categories for scoring?
• 10 per cent for resale,
• 10 per cent for ANCAP rating,
• 20 per cent for cost of ownership,
• Five per cent for service intervals,
• Five per cent for number of days for vehicle to sell

Read all about carsales Best Used Cars for 2019 here.